Asylum Seekers: Detention

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many asylum seekers were detained for a period of six months or more between 1 January and 31 December 2004.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: At present the Home Office does not hold information on the total number of asylum seekers who were detained for a period of six months or more between 1 January and 31 December 2004. It would be available only by examination of individual case files at disproportionate cost. Quarterly snapshots are published showing the number of asylum seekers detained under the Immigration Act powers on the last Saturday of each quarter. This information may be found in the Quarterly Asylum Statistics publications on the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Asylum Seekers: Tribal Affiliations

Viscount Montgomery of Alamein: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the tribal affiliations of asylum seekers from Africa, compared with the tribal affiliation of the governments of each country mentioned in the Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 30 June.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The ethnic origin or tribal affiliation of asylum seekers is not separately recorded. Nor do governments of particular countries necessarily have any particular tribal affiliations. The information requested is not therefore available.

Badgers

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Mr Jim Knight, on 26 May (HC Deb, 179–180W), why it is taking 18 months to analyse the responses to the consultation on the Protection of Badgers Act 1992.

Lord Bach: Other priorities have meant that officials have not had the time to take this issue forward as quickly as the department would have liked. A summary of results is, however, expected to be published by 21 July 2005.
	Nevertheless, the creation of Natural England may result in some changes to the internal administration of the current licensing process. Once we have a clearer understanding of its structure and exact responsibilities, we plan to implement any appropriate changes to the badger licensing regime which will also have regard to the consultation exercise.

Breastfeeding

Baroness Goudie: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What research has been undertaken to evaluate the link between the availability of specialist breastfeeding advisers and the number of mothers breastfeeding their babies in neonatal units.

Lord Warner: We are not aware of any specific research undertaken to evaluate specialist breastfeeding advisers in neonatal units. However, the published reviews of current research found that a multi-faceted approach was most effective in increasing breastfeeding rates. The 2000 Infant Feeding Survey found a 3 per cent increase in breastfeeding rates in England and Wales in the past five years since breastfeeding promotion has increased.

Breastfeeding

Baroness Goudie: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have to make extra resources available to primary care trusts for the recruitment of specialist breastfeeding advisers in neonatal units.

Lord Warner: Primary care trusts, as the local provider of services, determine the best way to use their resources in light of the local circumstances and needs. The Government have no plans to make extra resources available to primary care trusts for the recruitment of specialist breastfeeding advisers in neonatal units. Over the period of three years from 2003–06 PCTs will receive an average increase of 30.8 per cent revenue allocations and from 2006–08 it will be 19.5 per cent.

Capgemini

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the performance of Capgemini as a contractor to H M Revenue and Customs is satisfactory.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: HM Revenue and Customs can confirm that the performance of Capgemini in the one year since it became its IT partner is satisfactory.

Channel Tunnel Rail Link

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Davies of Oldham on 20 June (WA 157–158) (a) why the initial capital cost of the construction of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link phase 2 is "commercially sensitive"; (b) why the final cost is "commercially sensitive"; (c) what are the Government liability or guarantees in respect of the costs of this project; and (d) whether disclosure of a severe cost overrun on this project could adversely affect the prospects of the United Kingdom winning the 2012 Olympic Games.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The construction of section 2 of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link was originally forecast to cost £3.3 billion. LCR's current estimate of the final cost of the CTRL is commercially sensitive because release of its projections could undermine the negotiations with contractors as the project approaches completion.
	The Government have the following liabilities and guarantees in respect of the CTRL project as a whole:
	(i) £3.75 billion of Government Guaranteed Bonds issued by London and Continental Railways (LCR);
	(ii) Guarantee of CTRL track access charges payable by Eurostar (UK) Ltd and providing the associated access charge loan facility;
	(iii) Guarantee of LCR hedging arrangements;
	(iv) Guarantee of rental payments in respect of Ashford International station; and
	(v) Provisions for liabilities arising from grants payable to LCR which have been de-risked.
	My previous Answer referred to the anticipated final cost and inflationary pressures. LCR calculates that if these inflationary effects were removed, then the outturn cost of section 2 would be within a few percentage points of the target price. This does not have any bearing on the UK bid for the Olympic Games.

Charities: Government Funding

Lord Christopher: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What total funding, broken down by department, they provided to charities, whether by way of financial support or services, in the last five years.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Total central government funding of voluntary and community organisations increased substantially between 1999–2000 and 2001–02. At current prices actual total funding was £2,238.4 million in 1999–2000; £2,755.3 million in 2000–01; and £3,323.7 million in 2001–02. Detailed information on central government funding to voluntary and community organisations by government departments has been published only for the financial years 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01 and 2001–02. The information can be found in table one of Central government funding of voluntary and community organisations 1982–83 to 1999–2000 and table eight of Central government funding of voluntary and community organisations 1982–83 to 2001–02. Copies of these publications are available in the House of Lord's Library. Data collection for 2002–03 and 2003–04 is under way and I will write to my noble friend when the latest information is due to be published.

City Acadamies

Lord Ouseley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many city academies are in special measures or considered to be failing in the view of Ofsted.

Lord Adonis: Of the 17 open academies, one, Unity City Academy in Middlesbrough, is deemed by Ofsted to require special measures.
	HMI has conducted full inspections of two academies, Unity City Academy and the Greig City Academy in Haringey. The latter was judged to be "improving rapidly". HMI has also conducted monitoring inspections in 10 other academies. Of these, four were judged to be making good progress, five to be making satisfactory progress and one to have a mix of strengths and weaknesses.

Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the breach of the 21 day rule in respect of both the Orders for the Delivery of Documents (Procedure) (Amendment) Regulations (S.I. 2005/1131) and the Stamp Duty Land Tax (Administration) (Amendment) Regulations (S.I. 2005/1132) was not anticipated at the time of the passage of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: The regulations make amendments to nomenclature which are consequential to the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act. They were made on 8 April, the day after that Act was passed. The regulations came into force on 18 April, which was the day that the Act came into force. The breach of the 21-day rule was expected, and the reason was given in the explanatory memoranda which accompanied both sets of regulations:
	"The regulations ensure that HMRC has clear and continuous legislative cover for the exercise of its powers to require the production of documents. If they were not to come into force until some time after the transfer of functions to HMRC, there would be a doubt in the interim as to the new department's ability to exercise one of its main powers for investigating suspected serious tax fraud.
	Because of the short time between Royal Assent of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act, and the transfer of functions, it is not possible to lay these regulations in time for them to come into force at the time of transfer without breaching the 21-day rule."

Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether any of the provisions in the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings currently concern them; if so, which provisions; and what are those concerns.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: There are aspects of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings that are currently of concern. The particular areas of concern relate to issues surrounding the provision of recovery and reflection periods (Article 13) and residence permits (Article 14). The mandatory nature of these provisions when coupled with the scope of the convention has led to concerns that the provisions will act as an immigration pull factor, encourage spurious claims, and be used by those who have no right to remain in an effort to frustrate removal. Abuse of the provisions would ultimately impact on those in genuine need of assistance. Provision already exists for my right honourable friend the Home Secretary to exercise his discretion where it is clear that it is not appropriate to remove an individual or where it is appropriate to allow them time to recover before any decision is made in respect of their immigration status.

Green Belt Land

Baroness Hanham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much green belt land has been lost since 1997; and whether they will give details of where and how much in each locality where such loss occurred; and
	How much green belt land has been created since 1997; and whether they will give details of where and how much in each locality where such gain occurred.

Baroness Andrews: Data on the extent of designated green belt in each local authority area in England in 1997 and 2003 were published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on 16 September 2004. Copies of the publication are available in the Libraries of the House. The publication is also available on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website at www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm–planning/documents/page/odpm–plan–031125.hcsp.

Immigration: Unaccompanied Children

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the procedure at United Kingdom airports to establish the true identity of unaccompanied children entering the United Kingdom.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: All unaccompanied children requiring leave to enter the United Kingdom are examined by immigration staff at ports of entry. Their details, in addition to the details of their UK sponsor if appropriate, are checked against the Home Office databases for the purposes of immigration control and the prevention of crime. Where a child arrives without a document, a screening interview will be undertaken by specialist immigration staff to determine, as far as possible, their true identity. The screening interview will cover family background, family members, contacts in the United Kingdom and their travel route to the United Kingdom. A set of fingerprints will also be captured but only in the cases of children over the age of five years of age to ensure that prints are of an acceptable quality. The vulnerability of children who arrive unaccompanied in the United Kingdom is recognised and every effort is made to establish the bona-fides of the person they are meeting and the purpose of their visit. Where an immigration officer has concerns for the welfare of a child the police or social services will be alerted, depending on the circumstances of the case.

M2/A299 Roadworks

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Davies of Oldham on 28 June (WA17–18), on what basis they make their assessment that delays as a result of traffic management are unlikely; and what observations they are making of delays during weekends.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The assessment that delays as a result of traffic management are unlikely is based on the design studies for the scheme. The studies show that the majority of traffic using the junction between the M2 and A2 originates from and returns to the A2, and therefore does not pass under the bridges where works are taking place.
	Under the bridges there is normally one running lane coast bound and two running lanes London bound. Since an equal volume of traffic passes in both directions, the required capacity is generally only one lane in each direction. During the period of roadworks, a minimum of one running lane is being maintained in each direction. Therefore the assessment is that delays are unlikely.
	Observations of traffic conditions at the site are made by the traffic management contractor. The contractor visits the site every two hours, during the week and at weekends, to monitor traffic flow and the safety of the site. To date no major delays have been observed due to the traffic management arrangements, either during the week or at weekends.

McKinsey and Co.

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	(a) Whether McKinsey and Company Incorporated is currently carrying out any work for the NHS Modernisation Agency; (b) how many projects the firm has carried out for the agency since its creation in April 2001; (c) for each project, how long it lasted and how many McKinsey employees were involved; (d) the nature of any such contract; and (e) the total value of payments made by the agency to McKinsey and Company Incorporated since 2001.

Lord Warner: McKinsey and Company Incorporated is not currently carrying out any work for the NHS Modernisation Agency (which ceased to exist on 30 June 2005) and has not carried out any work for the NHS Modernisation Agency in the past.

Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005: Control Order Powers

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the reply by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 19 April (HL 1890), how many of the several hundred terrorists, stated by the Prime Minister to be on the streets of Britain, are now subject to constraints under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005.

Baroness Amos: I refer the noble Lord to the Written Ministerial Statement that I made on 16 June (WS59), which is the first 3 monthly report on the exercise of the control order powers. None of those referred to by my right honourable friend the Prime Minister on 19 of April are currently the subject of control orders.

Prisoners: Deportation

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What statistics they hold on the length of time prisoners due to be deported are held beyond the end of their sentences; whether the principal causes of any delays are in securing and implementing deportation orders which have been recommended by the courts; and what steps they are taking to reduce any such delays.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Information on the length of time, prisoners due to be deported are held beyond the end of their sentences is not available. The Immigration and Nationality Directorate aims, wherever possible, to remove deportees in line with their release from custody and IND works closely with the Prison Service and with individual inmates to keep any delays in effecting removal to a minimum. Deportation orders are signed promptly by the Minister of State for Immigration, Citizenship and Nationality and neither the securing nor implementation of the deportation order is a principal cause of delay.

Rural Delivery Review

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs press release of 17 May stating that the "Government's strategy for rural areas is to ensure that communities benefit from its programme to modernise, improve and protect public services", whether the strategy referred to is to maintain existing services or to re-establish services that have been withdrawn in recent years.

Lord Bach: The quote in the Question is not from a Defra press notice. However, our approach to improving services in rural areas is to build capacity in communities to allow them effectively to identify and articulate their needs to those who deliver services. The public services modernisation agenda is founded on providing local solutions for local people. Rural proofing, linked to the public services modernisation agenda, will ensure that services to those in rural areas are supported and that rural needs are met.
	In practice this means that we will continue with our work across government to help rural proof policies and delivery at national, regional and local levels so that people living in rural areas see benefits from the Government's programme to modernise, improve and support public services.
	Examples of the types of policy decision we have made to allow rural areas to benefit are listed in my letter to you of 13 June, for example the 50 per cent mandatory rate relief for small businesses, the legislation which, confirms the presumption against the closure of schools and our commitment to exploring measures to improve access to affordable housing for rural residents and their families. Others include the way we designed mini Sure Start programmes in rural areas and work we are doing to ensure pensioner take-up of benefits. The Rural Services Review also highlights a number of solutions to delivery in rural areas.
	This sort of collaborative working, based on the principles in our strategy for rural areas, will ensure that communities benefit from our programmes to modernise, improve and support public services and will enable communities to help themselves to meet the needs of local people.

Schools: Modernisation of Premises

Lord Brooke of Sutton Mandeville: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What special schemes they may be offering to assist and encourage the modernisation of school premises.

Lord Adonis: We are supporting the modernisation of school premises through the massive expansion of capital support that we are making available. In 1996–97, there was under £700 million a year being provided for investment in school buildings. This year there is £5.5 billion, and this will rise to over £6.3 billion by 2007–08—a sixfold increase in real terms. Over £17.5 billion of government support is available over the next three years for investment in schools.
	Every school in England now receives substantial money to invest in its own buildings. By 2007–08, a typical secondary school of 1,000 pupils will get £113,000 a year and a typical primary school of 250 pupils will get £34,000 a year. In addition, every authority and every diocese gets needs-related allocations of funding for their local priorities and strategic investment.
	We are also addressing the transformation of secondary schools through the academies programme and Building Schools for the Future (BSF) which aims to give all secondary schools 21st century facilities in 15 years. Thirty-nine authorities and about 380 schools have been prioritised in the first three waves, with £6.5 billion of investment. We aim to have 200 academies operational or in development by 2010.
	In his March Budget, the Chancellor announced that from 2008–09, there would be additional capital available—£150 million in 2008–09, rising to £500 million a year from 2009–10—to start the transformation of primary schools, with the aim of renewing at least half in the next 15 years. We will announce further details of this programme later this year.
	All investment should be aimed at improving educational achievement. As part of BSF, my department commissioned a range of exemplar designs for primary and secondary schools from a range of leading and innovative architects, to promote innovation and excellence in school design. We have also supported many exciting and ground-breaking individual "classroom of the future" projects, and also the work of organisations such as the Sorrell Foundation, School Works, the Design Council, RIBA and Learning through Landscapes in developing school-based design solutions for improving school buildings and better use of their grounds. Information on these projects is available to help schools and authorities consider how best to modernise their buildings and ensure that investment impacts positively on achievement.

Schools: Underachieving Black Boys

Lord Ouseley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will support the suggestion made by the Chair of the Commission for Racial Equality for the provision of separate black-led education provision for black boys who are significantly underachieving in the existing school arrangements.

Lord Adonis: This Government believe that the underachievement of black boys in our schools is a serious issue and that we need to be open to exploring all possible solutions.
	We have no plans to promote the teaching of black boys in separate classes. We are concerned that it could lead to stigmatising black pupils. However, over the past 18 months two pilot projects have focused on supporting local authorities and schools to meet the needs of their black pupils more effectively. These pilots have tested various approaches and have included targeted interventions to support particular groups of pupils through, for example, academic mentoring and catch-up support. The experience of these projects is currently informing the roll-out of a national programme to raise the attainment of black pupils from September 2005. This programme will work with local authorities and schools to target additional support directly at underachieving black pupils.

Space Exploration and Research

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their total expenditure on space exploration and space research from 1997–98 to the latest date for which information is available.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The British National Space Centre (BNSC) co-ordinates the civil space activities of its funding partners, who are responsible for their own budgets, shown in table 1. A breakdown of the areas of spend are shown in table 2. The amount spent on space exploration can be calculated by adding "Science/Microgravity" and "Transportation", and was £60.5 million in 2004–05. Each partner decides funding on a programmatic basis, with each programme containing elements of research, technology development and services.
	Civil Space Expenditure co-ordinated through BNSC 1 
	
		Table 1: Source of funds (£ million)
		
			 BNSC Partner 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
			 DTI 102.68 87.76 87.73 90.89 87.50 85.06 34.10 38.70 
			 PPARC 42.76 38.71 38.96 41.30 42.50 48.96 73.86 66.20 
			 Met Office 15.05 23.16 27.11 24.06 23.27 13.89 22.39 31.84 
			 NERC 12.70 11.10 11.00 11.00 10.50 9.99 51.00 52.20 
			 MoD 7.05 6.82 6.35 6.11 5.00 2.30 2.30 2.00 
			 DfT 2 1.04 (4)16.04 1.04 3.50 0.41 – 5.00 7.00 
			 Defra 3 1.90 1.40 0.43 0.52 – – 0.00 0.00 
			 Total 183.18 184.99 172.62 177.38 169.18 160.20 188.65 197.94 
		
	
	
		Table 2: Breakdown of funds—by subject area and spend area (£ million) ("ESA" is the European Space Agency)
		
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
			 Earth Observation 
			 National(8) 34.69 41.10 44.68 41.12 40.02 27.08 (7)27.07 39.94 
			 ESA 60.81 58.74 44.23 26.03 28.18 26.57 (7)62.15 40.19 
			 Sciences(6)/Microgravity 
			 National 9.50 7.50 9.56 12.00 13.10 (5)20.00 20.50 20.00 
			 ESA 33.61 32.95 32.29 33.42 28.65 34.07 40.25 35.40 
			 Telecommunications and Navigation 
			 National 4.00 3.80 3.70 7.55 8.71 10.14 3.10 4.80 
			 ESA 10.40 (4)20.58 7.68 22.09 19.75 9.19 15.35 23.40 
			 Technology 
			 National 1.15 2.38 7.04 18.00 8.63 12.04 2.21 3.60 
			 ESA 2.66 0.00 4.83 0.75 – 0.43 0.20 – 
			 Transportation 
			 National 0.28 0.17 0.26 0.39 – – 1.82 – 
			 ESA 4.79 3.59 4.53 4.04 4.00 4.76 1.10 5.10 
			 Other National 0.31 0.22 0.30 0.32 1.59 1.26 – 0.60 
			 ESA General Budget 20.98 13.96 13.52 11.67 16.55 14.66 14.90 24.90 
			 Total 183.18 184.99 172.62 177.38 169.18 160.20 188.65 197.94 
		
	
	(1) These figures were derived from data available at the time of publication.
	(2) Formerly part of Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions and previously Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions.
	(3) Formerly part of Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions and previously Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
	(4) 1998–99 figures include National Air Traffic Service's contribution of £15 million to ESA's EGNOS(GNSS-1) Programme.
	(5) From 2002–03, this includes grants in support of the science programme.
	(6) Includes contributions to the Aurora programme.
	(7) These figures were tabled incorrectly in Space Activities 2004.
	(8) Includes non-ESA international programmes.
	&nbsp

Sport Funding

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their current estimate of grants to be made available to the sport and play industries for each of the next three years from all government sources.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not hold any such estimates. Grants to industry from UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) are offered under the Support for Exhibitions and Seminars Abroad (SESA) scheme. However, UKTI has not yet made allocations under this scheme for the three years in question and for future years will not be designating funding on a sectoral basis.

Tax Credits: Electronic Data Systems

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the status of any claim by HM Revenue and Customs against Electronic Data Systems in relation to the tax credits system.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: Discussions are continuing between HMRC and EDS with a view to agreeing appropriate compensation. If the discussions do not lead to an acceptable offer, HMRC will commence legal proceedings.

Teachers

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the proportions of male and female teachers in primary and secondary schools in (a) England and Wales; (b) Scotland; (c) Northern Ireland; and (d) the United Kingdom as a whole.

Lord Adonis: The figures showing the proportions of male and female teachers in nursery, primary and secondary schools in England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom as a whole are as follows.
	
		Proportion of full-time qualified teachers in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools 2003–04
		
			  Males (percentage) Females(percentage) 
			 England and Wales (provisional)   
			 Nursery and Primary 16 per cent 84 per cent 
			 Secondary 44 per cent 56 per cent 
			 Scotland   
			 Nursery and Primary 1 8 per cent 92 per cent 
			 Secondary 45 per cent 55 per cent 
			 Northern Ireland   
			 Nursery and Primary 2 17 per cent 83 per cent 
			 Secondary (post-primary) 38 per cent 62 per cent 
			 United Kingdom (provisional)   
			 Nursery and Primary 15 per cent 85 per cent 
			 Secondary 44 per cent 56 per cent 
		
	
	Source: Department for Education and Skills; Scottish Executive; Department of Education, Northern Ireland.
	Notes:
	1 Primary schools only for Scotland.
	2 Includes grammar preparatory teachers.

Zimbabwe: Asylum Seekers

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will release all Zimbabwean nationals currently held in detention in the United Kingdom pending deportation.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We have no plans to release all Zimbabweans currently held in detention pending deportation. It is clear that there are Zimbabweans who need international protection, and we will continue to offer that protection to those who need it. However, not all Zimbabweans who claim asylum in the UK genuinely face persecution. We return only those who the asylum decision-making and independent appeals processes have found do not need international protection and who can therefore be returned safely to Zimbabwe. It is an important part of ensuring an effective and fair asylum system that those found not to be in need of international protection are removed from the UK. We examine with great care each individual case before removal and we will not remove anyone who we believe is at risk on their return.